Tag Archives: Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Citriodora’

golden gardens

Posted on September 13, 2017 by Denise

Doing some blog research for fall planting, I was surprised to find what a luminous phase the garden entered briefly around 2014. I’ve always been drawn to bright-colored leaves, but in this period the garden glowed as if irradiated. Chief … Continue reading →

Posted in design, journal, Plant Portraits, pots and containers | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Solanum valerianum ‘Navidad, Jalisco’

Posted on June 19, 2017 by Denise

I just don’t know what to think about this vine. First of all, let me be clear that I love the opulence of this solanum’s pendulous, grape-cluster-like performance. With its ropy swags of purply bloom, it is truly like living … Continue reading →

Posted in plant nurseries, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , | 27 Comments

friday clippings 6/24/16

Posted on June 24, 2016 by Denise

Little Diego next-door has taken upon himself the challenge of learning drumming. In the last couple months, he’s been practicing on whatever is handy, whether it be pots, pans, buckets, gates. It was hard to tell at first how invested … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Wednesday miscellany

Posted on March 30, 2016 by Denise

Progress report on Rudbeckia maxima. Snails love this rudbeckia, so I’ve been cutting out a lot of chewed-up lower leaves. Believe it or not, it seems to be forming bloom stalks already. Zone 10 can be a topsy-turvy home for … Continue reading →

Posted in journal, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

gardens without borders

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Denise

This corner of my small, jam-packed garden is where it gets crazy. Okay, okay. Crazier. This east end of the garden kind of horseshoes around this collection of containers, with the main sitting area (and more containers) off to the … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Wednesday clippings 8/26/15

Posted on August 26, 2015 by Denise

So what’s shakin’ this muggy end of August? As little as possible, you say? There’s been all manner of weird stuff going on, including a recurring problem with street-parked neighborhood cars getting their gas siphoned. This on the heels of … Continue reading →

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, succulents | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

more on the east fence

Posted on June 9, 2015 by Denise

I might as well continue with the east fence, the dark blue/black of which can be seen in the distance looking under the pergola. The pots shown yesterday are on the brick patio to the left of the cypresses, and … Continue reading →

Posted in garden visit, journal | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Toyon, California Holly

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Denise

This sturdy evergreen shrub native to California, Heteromeles arbutifolia, is also known as the Christmas Berry or California Holly. Here’s why: There’s an old urban legend that early European settlers in Los Angeles, where this holly lookalike grew especially abundant, … Continue reading →

Posted in cut flowers, Plant Portraits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

blue fence

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Denise

Double-sided, dog-eared redwood fence, you win. Smug, aren’t you? You know I can’t afford to replace you. Over the years I’ve stained you blue (twice), stenciled you in scrolls, but to no avail. There you stand, a blue, stenciled, dog-eared … Continue reading →

Posted in design, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

streetside; your own personal prairie

Posted on September 17, 2014 by Denise

When my job canceled today, I knew exactly where I wanted to go before breakfast, before even the first cup of coffee. The local neighborhood prairie. It’s something you don’t see everyday in my coastal neighborhood in Los Angeles County, … Continue reading →

Posted in climate, design, driveby gardens, The Hortorialist | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments